The One-For-One Rule an Over-Simplified Approach to Regulations

President of the Treasury Board Minister Tony Clement

Minister Tony Clement's released their new One-For-One rule on Jan 18th.  Put simply the press release is announcing that the federal government plans to treat regulations like trading cards.

This means that regulators will be required to remove at least one regulation each time they introduce a new one that imposes administrative burden on business. 

I understand that Minister Clement is trying to "reduce red tape" but this over simplified approach is not the way to go.  Minister Clement is assuring that with this rule Canadian standards will never increase and may even potentially decrease.  Regulations are imposed on finance, environment and health to ensure the safety of the public whether it be safeguarding their retirement savings or inspecting the quality of their food.

Minister Clement from his letter, views regulations as simply burdens on business and nothing else.  In fact he makes no mention of the importance of regulations at all.  Regulations are put in place after much thought and consideration by regulators and forcing regulators to remove one of these important regulations in order to add a new one that has now become necessary due to more information available or a change in a situation is well to put it bluntly - stupid.

Treasury Board  Press Release Jan 18, 2012
Playing with Fire - When Political Ideology Costs Lives